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Oregon emissions test: the official wording
Everything in quotation marks here is from 8 sources and was matched to them on November 11, 2026. The quotes are the sources’ words; ours only label them.
About these quotes.
The lines we hold name two areas and no county, so the place list has two entries. Lines printed for one area carry its label.
On this page: where · how often · fee · new and older vehicles · diesel, electric, hybrid · check a vehicle · sources
What does the text call it?
The Oregon Vehicle Inspection Program carries out its emission testing program through seven Clean Air Stations, 6 in Portland and one in Medford.
The page we point to: Oregon DEQ, Vehicle Inspection (program home page).
Which areas does the text name?
The quoted text names 2 areas:
- Portland area
- Medford area
To address the leading cause of pollution, Oregon operates a biennial vehicle emissions testing program in the Portland and Medford areas.
State Implementation Plan requires that non-exempt passenger vehicles are tested, every two years, in the Portland and Medford metropolitan areas.
To determine if your vehicle is registered within a DEQ emissions testing boundary visit our VIP Boundary Lookup tool below:
How often is the test?
Then, the vehicle must be tested again every two years before the registration can be renewed.
What does the test cost?
Portland area
In the Portland Area, the vehicle testing fee is $25
Medford area
The Medford Area vehicle testing fee is $20
This fee is due only after your vehicle receives a passing test result, and is issued a Certificate of Compliance. There is no charge if your vehicle fails.
What does the text say about new and older vehicles?
If your vehicle is new (the model year is within the last four years), it is exempt from the testing requirements.
Portland area
Listed under:
Vehicles required to test in Portland
All 1975 and newer cars, trucks, vans, motor homes and buses powered by gasoline , alternative fuels (such as propane) or hybrids registered within the Portland testing boundaries
Medford area
Listed under:
Vehicles required to test in Medford
All cars, trucks, vans, motor homes and buses powered by gasoline, alternative fuels (such as propane) or hybrids 20 years old or less and registered within the DEQ Medford area boundaries
What about diesel, electric and hybrid vehicles?
Every current line we hold for Oregon that uses the word diesel, electric or hybrid. Some are about one place or one kind of test; each speaks for itself.
Portland area
Listed under:
Vehicles required to test in Portland
All 1975 and newer cars, trucks, vans, motor homes and buses powered by gasoline , alternative fuels (such as propane) or hybrids registered within the Portland testing boundaries
Portland area
Listed under:
Vehicles required to test in Portland
All 1975 and newer diesel powered vehicles with a manufacturer's gross weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less (This includes all passenger cars and most light-duty trucks) registered within the Portland testing boundaries.
Medford area
Listed under:
Vehicles required to test in Medford
All cars, trucks, vans, motor homes and buses powered by gasoline, alternative fuels (such as propane) or hybrids 20 years old or less and registered within the DEQ Medford area boundaries
Medford area
Listed under:
Vehicles required to test in Medford
All diesel powered vehicles 20 years old or less with a manufacturer's gross weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less (This includes all passenger cars and most light-duty trucks) registered within the DEQ Medford area boundaries.
Listed under:
Portland and Medford testing exemptions
Motorcycles, low-speed vehicles (mopeds, golf carts, tractors, all-terrain vehicles, etc.) and fully electric vehicles
What about heavier vehicles?
Portland area
Listed under:
Vehicles required to test in Portland
All 1975 and newer diesel powered vehicles with a manufacturer's gross weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less (This includes all passenger cars and most light-duty trucks) registered within the Portland testing boundaries.
What else does the text say?
Vehicles registered within the two testing boundaries must pass an emissions test in order to be re-registered with the Oregon Department of Transportation, Driver and Motor Vehicle Services.
Vehicles registered in the Portland Metro and Medford/Ashland area are required to pass an emissions test in order to register a vehicle.
If your vehicle is located in another state and more than 150 miles from the Oregon border, you are required to test through an out-of-state program; if no out-of-state program exists, you may obtain proof of exemption.
Generally speaking, 1995 and older vehicles receive a tailpipe test, while 1996 and newer vehicles receive a computerized test known as an On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) test.
Check a vehicle against these quotes
Enter a model year, a fuel and a weight rating, and choose the area. The checker repeats the quotes above and, where a figure can be compared, says where your entry falls against it. It does not decide anything about your vehicle.
Where do these quotes come from?
- Oregon DEQ, Vehicle Inspection (program home page) (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Oregon DEQ, About the Vehicle Inspection Program (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Oregon DEQ, Testing Boundaries (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Oregon DEQ, Vehicles Tested and Exempted (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Oregon DEQ, Vehicle Inspection fees (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Oregon DEQ, New to the Oregon and DEQ? (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Oregon DEQ, Recently Purchased and Newer Model Year Vehicles (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
- Oregon DEQ, Vehicle Inspection Frequently Asked Questions (oregon.gov; state agency page; read November 11, 2026)
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